Compartmentalized tool box

ABSTRACT

A compartmentalized tool box comprises a first base, a first locating board disposed removably in the first base for holding tools, a second base located over the first base, a second locating board disposed removably in the second base for holding tools, a retaining button for retaining the first base and the second base, and a cover pivoted to the second base such that the cover can be opened alone or along with the second base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a tool box, and more particularly to a compartmentalized tool box.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] As shown in FIG. 1, a tool box of the prior art comprises a base 11 and a cover 12. The base 11 is provided with a plurality of tool slots 10 for keeping parts of the hand tool, such as screwdriver. The base 11 and the cover 12 are made integrally such that the form of the prior art tool box is fixed. In the event that a change in the form of the prior art tool box is called for, a new set of the molding tool must be prepared at additional cost. In addition, the prior art tool box is not provided with the separate sections to accommodate a variety of component parts of the hand tool in an organized manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tool box which is versatile in design and is formed of a first base, a first locating board disposed in the first base for holding tool parts, a second base located over the first base, a second locating board disposed in the second base for holding tool parts, a cover located over the second base, and a retaining button for retaining the first base and the second base. The cover can be opened alone or along with the second base.

[0006] The features and the functions of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007]FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a tool box of the prior art

[0008]FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in combination.

[0011]FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a design pattern of the first or second locating board of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0012]FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of another design pattern of the first or second locating board of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use.

[0014]FIG. 8 shows another schematic view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] As shown in FIGS. 2-4, a tool box embodied in the present invention comprises a first base 20, a first locating board 60 disposed in the first base 20, a second base 30 located over the first base 20, a second locating board 61 disposed in the second base 30, a retaining button 40 for retaining the first base 20 and the second base 30, and a cover 50.

[0016] The first base 20 has a receiving space which is formed and defined by four side walls. The first base 20 is provided in the top of the rear side wall thereof with two pivoting lugs 22, each having a through hole 21. The first base 20 is provided in the bottom wall with a plurality of retaining pillars 23. The first base 20 is provided in the front side wall with a recessed portion 24 which is in turn provided in two opposite side walls with a retaining projection 25.

[0017] The first locating board 60 is provided with a plurality of retaining holes 62 corresponding in number and location to the retaining pillars 23 of the first base 20. The first locating board 60 is removably disposed in the receiving space of the first base 20 such that the retaining pillars 23 of the first base 20 are inserted into the retaining holes 62 of the first locating board 60. The first locating board 60 is provided in the upperside with a plurality of locating slots 63 for holding the tool parts, and a plurality of seats 64 for holding a hand tool 70.

[0018] The second base 30 is basically similar in construction to the first base 20 and is located over the first base 20. The second base 30 is provided in the rear side wall with a pivoting lug 32 having a through hole 31 in alignment with the through holes 21 of the two pivoting lugs 22 of the first base 20. The second base 30 is pivoted with the first base 20 by a pin 33 which is received in the through holes 21 of the pivoting lugs 22 of the first base 20 and the through hole 31 of the pivoting lug 32 of the second base 30. The pivoting lug 32 of the second base 30 is located between the two pivoting lugs 22 of the first base 20. The second base 30 is provided in the upperside of the bottom wall thereof with a plurality of retaining pillars 34, and in the front side wall with a recessed portion 35 corresponding in location to the recessed portion 24 of the first base 20. The recessed portion 35 is provided in two opposite sides with a pivoting pillar 36, and in an inner side with a locating slot 38. The second base 30 is further provided in the top of two longitudinal ends of the rear side wall thereof with a pivoting hole 37.

[0019] The retaining button 40 is provided in two longitudinal ends with a pivoting hole 41 and is pivotally retained by the second base 30 such that the pivoting pillars 36 of the recessed portion 35 of the second base 30 are received in the pivoting holes 41 of the retaining button 40. As a result, the retaining button 40 can be swiveled on the two pivoting pillars 36 of the second base 30. The retaining button 40 is further provided at the lower end edges of the two longitudinal ends thereof with a retaining hook 42, which catches the retaining projection 25 of the first base 20 at such time when the second base 30 is joined with the first base 20, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0020] The second locating board 61 is provided with a plurality of retaining holes 62 corresponding in location and number to the retaining pillars 34 of the second base 30. The second locating board 61 is further provided in the upperside with a plurality of seats 64 for holding hand tools 70. The second locating board 61 is disposed in the second base 30 such that the retaining pillars 34 of the second base 30 are removably inserted into the retaining holes 62 of the second locating board 61.

[0021] The cover 50 is provided in two longitudinal ends of the rear side thereof with a pivot 51. The cover 50 is pivoted to the second base 30 in such a manner that the two pivots 51 of the cover 50 are received in the two pivoting holes 37 of the second base 30. The cover 50 is provided in the underside of the front side thereof with a protruded plate 53 having a retaining edge 52. The retaining edge 52 is located in the locating slot 38 of the second base 30 at the time when the cover 50 is joined with the second base 30, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0022] The seats 64 of the first locating board 60 and the second locating board 61 may be arranged in various forms to facilitate the holding of a variety of hand tools. The locating boards 60 and 61 are removably disposed in the first base 20 and the second base 30 respectively. For this reason, the tool box of the present invention can be used to hold a variety of hand tools by disposing a selected locating board 60 or 61 in the first base 20 or the second base 30.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 7, the cover 50 is opened alone to enable the user of the tool box to have an access to the tools kept in the second locating board 61. As shown in FIG. 8, the cover 50 is opened along with the second base 30, the second locating board 61, and the retaining button 40, thereby enabling the user of the tool box to have an access to the tools kept in the first locating board 60.

[0024] The embodiment of the present invention described above is to be regarded in all respects as being illustrative and nonrestrictive. Accordingly, the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without deviating from the spirit thereof. The present invention is therefore to be limited only by the scope of the following claim. 

I claim:
 1. A tool box comprising: a first base provided in a rear side wall with two pivoting lugs, each having a through hole, said first base further provided in the upper side of a bottom wall thereof with a plurality of retaining pillars, and in a front side wall thereof with a recessed portion which is in turn provided in two opposite sides thereof with a retaining projection; a first locating board provided with a plurality of retaining holes corresponding in location and number to said retaining pillars of said first base, said first locating board further provided in an upperside with a plurality of tool-locating slots or seats whereby said first locating board is removably disposed in said first base such that said retaining pillars of said first base are inserted into said retaining holes of said first locating board; a second base located over said first base and provided in a rear side wall thereof with a pivoting lug having a through hole in alignment with said through holes of said pivoting lugs of said first base, said second base being pivoted with said first base by a pin which is received in said through holes of said pivoting lugs of said first base and said through hole of said pivoting lug of said second base, said second base further provided in the upper side of a bottom wall thereof with a plurality of retaining pillars, and in a front side wall thereof with a recessed portion corresponding in location to said recessed portion of said first base, said recessed portion of said second base being provided in two opposite sides with a pivoting pillar, and in an inner side thereof with a locating slot, said second base being further provided in the top of two longitudinal ends of a rear side thereof with a pivoting hole; a retaining button provided in two longitudinal ends with a pivoting hole and pivoted to said second base such that said pivoting pillars of said recessed portion of said second base are received in said pivoting holes of said retaining button whereby said retaining button is further provided at a lower edge of two longitudinal ends thereof with a hook which catches said retaining projection of said first base at such time when said second base is joined with said first base; a second locating board provided with a plurality of retaining holes corresponding in location and number to said retaining pillars of said second base, said second locating board further provided in an upperside with a plurality of tool-holding slots or seats whereby said second locating board is removably disposed in said second base such that said retaining pillars of said second base are inserted into said retaining holes of said second locating board; and a cover provided in two longitudinal ends of a rear side thereof with a pivot fastened therewith, said cover being pivoted to said second base such that said two pivots of said cover are inserted into said two pivoting holes of said second base, said cover provided in the underside of a front side thereof with a protruded plate extending therefrom and having a retaining edge whereby said retaining edge is located in said locating slot of said second base at the time when said cover is joined with said second base. 